March 25 – European Football Clubs (EFC) and EA SPORTS FC have combined to announce the 2026 Symbol of Change Grant recipients, as the two organisations continue to position football as a driver of social impact across Europe.
“The Symbol of Change Grants are about celebrating the clubs that are using football’s platform to make a real difference in people’s lives,” said EFC CEO Charlie Marshall. “As EFC grows to over 800+ Member Clubs, it is important that we continue to build on our central mission of being a united voice for change, for all our clubs and their fans.”
Marshall added: “Through our partnership with EA SPORTS FC, we are empowering clubs to think creatively about how they can serve their communities and deliver lasting impact, ensuring football’s reach is matched by its impact.”
Symbol of Change Grants recognise EFC Member Clubs using football to address some of the most pressing challenges facing their communities – from inclusion and education to gender equality and grassroots development. The awarded projects were unveiled at the EFC Club Connect event in Lisbon on Tuesday.
“The Symbol of Change Grants are about unlocking the potential that football clubs have to drive meaningful change in their communities,” added James Salmon, senior director of partnership marketing. “At EA SPORTS FC, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that use the game to inspire, educate and bring people together.”
He continued: “Partnering with EFC allows us to help clubs turn great ideas into impactful programmes that can reach and benefit communities across Europe.”
Three projects have been selected, each earning €100,000 to put towards their respective projects: Samsunspor (gender equality), Club Brugge Foundation (grassroots development) and Shakhtar Social (youth education).
Zeycan Rochelle Yildirim, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsunspor, said: “Receiving the Grant means so much to everyone at Samsunspor who has poured their heart into this project. In five years, we have supported over 2,400 women and opened football to 215 women and girls who never had access before. This year, we will reach 3,000 people directly — from girls stepping onto a pitch for the first time, to academy boys learning that equality is something you build from the beginning. This grant means we get to keep building it.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]